Indicator for cash-registers.



v A. J. POSTANS.

INDICATOR FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION TILED me. 27. 1907.-

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mmzzw a emu ca. wa o-umcsmwsns. wwmsnm n A. J. POSTANS. mmcuon r011 CASHREGISTERS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 27, 1907.

942,348. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. J. POSTANS.

INDIGATOR FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1907.

942,348. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. J. POSTANS. INDICATOR FOR CASH REGISTERS. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 27,1907.

942,348. Patented De0.7,1909.

4- SHEETSSHBET 4.

, UN STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ADDER CASHREGISTER SYNDICATE LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

INDICATOR FOR CASH-REGISTERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR JAMES Pos- TANS, a subject of the King ofEngland, and residing at London, in England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Indicators for Cash-Registers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to indicator mechanismfor calculating machines and the like, and has for its object to providea simple mechanism whereby the separate items may be visibly indicatedas they are registered upon the machine.

Cash registers and other machines are, as is well-known, provided withindicating devices whereby the amount of the purchase is indicated sothat the purchaser can see that the correct amount has been registeredby the salesman, and the present invention refers only to the mechanismfor thus visibly indicating any particular item registered by themachine, the mechanism being adapted for application to any machinewherein one or more of the members employed is always advancedproportionally to the amount registered at each separate operation ofthe machine. In the form of calculating macnine described in my earlierpatent No. 786839 dated 11th April 1905, this member would be thequadrant whereby the movement of the keys is transmitted to theregistering drums. The actual indicating plates employed heretofore haveusually taken the form of number tablets adapted to be separately raisedaccording to the amount to be indicated, but it is preferred for thepurposes of this invention to rely mainly upon the use of disks carryinga series of numbers and adapted to be rotated until the correct numberappears opposite one or more openings; tablets may however be employedalso.

Broadly this invention consists in the employment of a cam-shaped, or astepped member, such as a rack, and a stop or follower cooperatingtherewith, one of these members being connected with a sign device andloaded to maintain it in contact with the other either of which ismovable to cause different portions of the stepped or camsurface tocooperate with the stop or follower according to the item to beindicated. The operating member of the cash register or like machineeffects the required dis- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27, 1907.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Serial No. 390,336.'

placement of that member whose movement causes different portions of thestepped or cam-surface to come into operation. Pref erably a rack isemployed as the stepped member and a detent member is used as a followerthe rack being pivoted, and moved by the operating member of thecash-register so that the detent is displaced from the zero position(namely the first tooth of the rack) and is advanced by its loading toengage a tooth of the rack at a greater or less distance from the zeroposition according to the amount of displacement given. The indicatormechanism does not return with the operating member of the cash registeras it is required that the indicator shall show the item registeredafter the operating member has returned to its normal position.Preferably the detent member takes the form of a rod adapted to slidevertically and carrying a detent pin for engagement with the rack, whichfor the purpose of distinction may be called the computing rack. Thisrack has a curved or cam-shaped operating face and is pivoted at itsbase so that it can swing away from or toward the detent pin. The detentmember is loaded conveniently by a spring (or its own weight may berelied upon), and has secured to it an indicator rack which engages thepinion of a disk carrying the numbers which are presented at a suitableorifice in the casing according to the amount registered. The computingrack is preferably spring-controlled whereby its engagement with thedetent is insured and normally the detent rests upon the upper end ofthe rack.

The operating member of the calculating machine carries a pushrod orequivalent device which is adapted to butt against the computing rack,or a part secured thereto, so that as the operating member advances therack will be pushed back away from the detent. As the rack is thus movedaway from the detent the latter will fall step-bystep down the toothedcam-face, and, when the forward motion ceases, the detent will rest uponthat tooth with which it has last come into contact. The fallingstep-bystep is more or less theoretical as the morement of the rackwould usually be so rapid that the detent would fall direct on to thetooth upon which it is to rest. It will be seen that the amount to beindicated by the disk is thus-computed by the degree of displacementgiven to the rack as the numbers on the disk correspond with the teethof the rack so that, if the detent falls from the zero position on tothe first tooth, 1 will be indicated by the disk, or, if it drops to thesecond tooth, 2 will be indicated and so on.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one method of carrying outthis invention, Figure l is a front elevation of the indicator, Fig. 2is a vertical section through the indicator on the line 22 of Fig. 1,parts being omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 is a rear view ofthe indicator with the back plate of the casing removed and one elementof each of the double racks omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. d isa plan of the mechanism in the upper portion of the casing together withthose parts which lie outside of the casing, and Eig. shows part or themechanism in Fig. '2 in a ditlerent position.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The indicator is intended for cooperation with a cash register or othercalculating machine, and that shown. in the drawings is arranged toindicate the separate items, registered by the machine, in shillings andpence. The whole of the mechanism is in closed in a casing comprising aframe A whereto front and back plates A A respectively are secured. Whenin place upon the register the plate A is toward the operator and theamount is indicated in the glazed openings A A provided in the frontplate A. The back plate A also has glazed openings A corresponding to AA so that the amount indicated at the front or" the apparatus may besimultaneously indicated at the rear in order that the purchaser may seethat the correct amount has been registered.

The indicator plates take the form of disks B B and C C respectively.These disks are pivoted free upon spindles D carried by the plates A Aand on each plate is a series of figures disposed in a circle about thecenter of the disk so that any one of the figures may be brought toregister with the openings in the plates according to the amount to beindicated. Each disk is carried by a sleeve whereon is a pinion, the

disks B and C having pinions B C These two pinions are connectedtogether by a double rack E (shown in plan in Fig. 4t and in elevationwith one element broken away for the sake of clearness in Fig. carriedby a vertical rod E so that movement of the rack in either directionresults in corresponding movement of these two disks; the double rack Eis broken away from the rod E in Fig. 2, and the disks B and C operatedthereby, are also emitted from this figure for the sake of clearness.Similarly, the disks B C have pinions B C which are connected togetherby a double rack F carried by a vertical rod i The rack E thus controlsthe disks B and C which indicate the shillings, and the rack F controlsthe disks B 0 whereby the pence are indicated. In Fig. 2 the rack E anddisks B and (l with their pinions are omitted for the sake of clearnessand in Fig. 3 the disks C and C with their respective half-rack portionsare omitted for the same reason.

The indicator rack-rods E F are loaded by springs E F so that they tendto descend and rotate the disks to the full limit of their movement, butthis is prevented by computing racks allotted one to each of the rodsand pivoted within the :asing below the disks. The computing rack G (seeFigs. 2, 3 and 5) controls the rod E and is pivotally carried on a pin Gmounted in the casing while the rack H. controls the rod F and is.similarly pivoted on a pin H The rods E F carry detents E F"respectively, which engage the teeth of the corresponding computingracks and thus retain each rod in its raised position. The racks G and Hare controlled by springs G HP whereby they are automatically returnedto their normal position when zeroizing as hereinafter described.

To operate the racks G and H push-rods G H are provided, one red beingpivoted to the free end of each rack. These rods extend through orificesin the front plate A] and enter the rear of the cash register. Theregister is not shown in the drawings as it may take any suitable formprovided it has in it one or more key operated members which are alwaysadvanced proportionally to the amount registered at each separateoperation of the machine. In the drawings toothed quadrants J and K areshown as representing these key operated members. The members themselves'lorm no part 01. the present invention, but serve to move the usualregistering mechanism wherewith cash registers are provided. Thequadrant J is pivoted to J and has pivoted to it a push-rod J". The rodJ 2 enters a tubular guide J mounted within the cashregister and theindicator is alined with the register so that the push-rod H" of therack ll may also enter the tubular guide J but from the end remote fromthe quadrant J and may lie with its end in contact with that of the rodJ The quadrant J represents the member in the cash register which isalways moved proportionally with the number of pence to be registeredand this is therefore employed to operate the computing rack H whichcontrols the pence sign devices B C but the computing rack G is operatedby another quadrant K pivoted at K and moved in proportion to the numberof shillings to be registered. The push-rod G enters a guide K similarto the guide J and cooperates with a pushrod K on the quadrant K.

The operation of the indicator is as follows: When registering an amounton the cash-register, the quadrants J and K move in the directionindicated by the arrows (Figs. 2 and 4), but immediately the amount hasbeen registered they fall back to the normal position shown in thefigures. Supposing the quadrant J to be thus advanced, its rod J 2pushes the rod H before it and swings the rack H about its pivot Hagainst the operation of the spring H This frees the detent F so thatrod F with the double indicator-rack F drops under the action of thespring F 2 until again arrested by a tooth farther down the rack H. Thenumber of teeth over which the detent F will pass before it is arresteddepends upon the amount of displacement given to the rack and this isalways proportional to the movement of the quadrant J and consequentlyit is also proportional to the amount registered on the machine. Iftherefore eight pence is to be registered on the cash register, thequadrant J will be advanced proportionally and the computing rack H willbe swung back thereby a distance such that the detent F will descendfrom the first tooth to the ninth tooth thereon; the rack G and detent Eare shown thus displaced in Fig. 5. Vhen resting upon the first tooththe double rack F held the indicator plates or s gn devices B C in suchposition that a cipher or a blank appeared at the glazed orifices onboth sides of the apparatus, but as the rod F descends, it causes thedouble rack to rotate the pinions B C so that both disks are carriedaround a distance proportional to the degree of movement of the rod Fthat is, of the de tent F The numbers on the disks are so arranged thatfor every tooth the detent passes over, a fresh number will appear atthe indicating orifices. It follows therefore that the plates instead ofindicating naught will register eight on both sides of the apparatus ifthe detent is allowed to drop on to the ninth tooth of the rack asshown. The shillings rack E and rod E is operated in precisely the samemanner by the quadrant K and it will be seen that the shillings andpence appear in proper order side by side on both sides of the apparatussimultaneously. After the amount has been registered on the cashregister, the racks J K automatically return to their normal positionsbut this does not affect the indicator apparatus as there is'no positiveconnection between the push-rods on the quadrants and those on thecomputing racks, and it is desired that the amount shall remainregistered therein until the change has been given to the purchaser andthe whole transaction completed.

To zeroize the indicator, a rockin shaft L is emploved carrying arms L LThe arms L L lie Vertically beneath the rack-rods E F and are normallyheld clear of the rackrods by a spring L whichcontrols the rockingshaft. Any suitable means may be provided for operating the rockingshaft, such as a hand lever, and when the shaft is turned the levers L Lare brought into contact with the lower ends of the rack-rods E F sothat they are raised against the action of their springs .f F 2 untilthe detents E F are brought once more to their normal posi tions. As thecomputing racks G and H are spring-controlled, they will follow themovement of the detents so that as these latter reach their normalpositions, the top tooth of each rack will be brought beneath itsrespective detent and retain the same in the zero position. The rockingshaft L is then released and under the action of the spring L againreturns to its position of rest with the levers L L clear of therack-rods.

It should be noted that the axis about which the racks G and H pivot lieto one side of the direction of thrust put upon the rack by the detentsE F so that when either detent engages a tooth on the rack it tends todraw the rack forward against the detent and thus insures engagementwith the tooth. he faces of the racks are curved although obviously asimilar result can be obtained by a straight rack if desired. Thestraight rack may be pivoted about an axis which would intersect thevertical line occupied by the detent, so that directly the rack wasdisplaced from the vertical position it would present an inclined faceto the detent whereupon the latter would drop from the zero position onto one or other of the teeth according to the amount of inclinationgiven, as will be readily understood.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In an item indicator for a cash register the combination of, amovable sign device, a member operatively connected therewith, a loadingfor that member that always tends to advance it and the sign device, acomputing member that has a cam-shaped face which engages some partwhereby the advance of the loaded member under the action of its loadingis arrested, and means for effecting relative displacement of thecomputing member and such engaging part in such direction as to bring afresh portion of the cam-shaped face into operation the degree ofdisplacement varying according to the amount to be registered,substantially as set forth.

2. In an item indicator for a cash register the combination of, amovable sign device, a member operatively connected therewith, a loadingfor that member that always tends to advance it and the sign device, acomputing UNI member that has a cam-shaped'faee whereon a part carried'by the {loaded inemberbears and whereby the advanceof the loaded menrher under the actionof its loading'is arrested and means fordisplacingthe computing member in such direction that a portion of the ca1nshapedface more'rem'ote from the engaging part of the loaded member is broughtopposite such part the degree of displacement varying according to theamount to be registered, substantially as set forth.

3. In an item indicator for a cash register the combination of, amovable sign device, a member operatively connected therewith, a loadingfor the member that always tends to advance it in a given path, suchmovement also advancing the sign-device, a toothed rack whose teeth lieapproximately in the line of travel of a portion of this loaded memberthe teeth being engaged by such portion under the action of the loading,a pivotal support for the toothed rack whereby the rack is carried insuch manner that that end of it toward which the engaging portion of theloaded member advances always lies in the path of the engaging portion,and means for swinging the rack about the pivot so that that end nearestthe engag ing portion of the loaded member will be carried away fromsuch portion a distance varying according to the amount to beregistered, substantially as set forth.

4. In an item indicator for a cash register the combination of, amovable sign device, a loaded member that is operatively connected withthe sign device and always tends to advance in a given path under theaction of its loading, a toothed rack whose teeth lie approximately inthe line of travel of a portion of this loaded member the teeth beingengaged by such portion, a pivotal support for the toothed rack wherebythe rack is carried in such manner that that end of it toward which theengaging portion of the loaded member advances always lies in the pathof the engaging portion and such pivotal support moreover being disposedin such position that a line drawn from the point of engagement of therack in the directionof thrust of the loaded member would pass to oneside of the pivot and on such. .side. as would cause the pressure of theengaging portion on the rack to rockthe rack toward such engagingportion, and means for swinging the rack about the pivot so that thatend nearest the engaging portion of the loaded member will be carriedaway from such portion a distance varying according to the amount to beregistered, substantially as set forth.

In an item indicator for a cash register the combination of, a movablesign device, a loaded member that is operatively connected with the signdevice and always tends to advance in a given path under the action ofits loading, a toothed rack whose teeth lie approximately in the line oftravel of a portion of this loaded member the teeth being engaged bysuch portion, a pivotal support for the toothed rack whereby the rack iscarried in such manner that that end of it toward which the engagingportion of the loaded member advances always lies in the path of theengaging portion, means for swinging the rack about the pivotal supportso that that end nearest the engaging portion of the loaded member will.be carried away from such portion a distance varying according to theamount to be registered, yielding means that always tend to swing therack upon its pivotal support and thus maintain it in engagement withthe loaded member, and means for forcing the loaded member back againstthe action of its loading whereby all the parts return to their normalpositions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS.

\Vitnesses A. M. HAYWARD, HARRY B. BRIDGES.

